7 Foods Which Can Help to Get Rid of Bad Breath

Halitosis, aka, fetor oris, foul breath, or just plain bad breath are the terms used to represent unpleasant smelling breath that comes from both physiological (normal body), and pathological (disease-causing body) sources. Studies place bad breath as the third most frequent reason people look for oral treatment, which is followed by tooth decay and gum diseases.

Bad breath can be caused by several factors including plaque inflammation of gums and tooth decay in the mouth. However, itâ€™s often caused because of the food weâ€™ve eaten. The smell is produced when bacteria in our mouth releases smelly gases while digesting tiny food particles lodged between our tongue and mouth. Survey shows that Americans spend nearly about $1billion a year on breath freshening products like gum, mint, and mouthwash, however, they fail to get the job done.

Here are some foods you should include in your daily diet to keep your breath fresh:

Use Herbs Daily
Herbs like parsley, mint, tarragon, coriander, and basil should be a part of your daily intake. The pleasant strong smell of the herbs will cover the foul smell for a whole day and the polyphenols present in these herbs help to break down the sulfur compounds found in foods like garlic and onion which produces some of the most offensive gases.

The Antioxidants
Have a cup of green tea or black tea that hasnâ€™t been sweetened will help to ward off foul smell because it contains antioxidants, like polyphenols, that destroy the growth of bacteria.

Probiotic Intakes
Include probiotic rich foods like yogurt, fermented sauerkraut, and kombucha tea because the good bacteria will overpower the bad bacteria which causes foul smell.

Fruits Are There for You
Fruits like apple, pears, orange, melons, and berries are really good for fighting bad breath as well as adding a dose of immunity-boosting nutrients to your diet. These fruits help in the production of saliva that plays a critical role in rebalancing the natural ecology of the mouth.

Munching the Crunchy
Prefer adding crunchy vegetables like celery, lettuce, spinach, carrots, and cucumber. These vegetables are rich in fiber and great in stimulating the flow of your saliva. In addition to veggies creating saliva, their fibrous structure will also help clean your teeth.

Go â€œNutsâ€
Dry fruits like almonds, hazelnuts, and cashews work similarly as the vegetables and fruits mentioned above. Their rich fiber content acts as a tiny toothbrush on our teeth.

Spice Up Your Day
Cinnamon, anise, cardamom, mint sprigs, and fennel seeds are some spices thatâ€™ll help cover the foul smell because of the pleasant strong smell present in them. The essential oil that these spices contain actually kills a certain type of smell generating bacteria.

Apart from the foods mentioned above, maintaining proper oral hygiene routines – brushing, flossing, rinsing, tongue cleaning and regular visits to the dentist – will help you get rid of bad breath.